10 Facts About Arthur Grumiaux

Baron Arthur Grumiaux was a Belgian violinist, considered by some to have been "one of the few truly great violin virtuosi of the twentieth century".

Arthur Grumiaux has been noted for having a "consistently beautiful tone and flawless intonation".

Arthur Grumiaux entered the conservatoire in Charleroi at the age of six; the normal entry age was eleven.

Arthur Grumiaux studied violin and piano there until the age of eleven, when he graduated and moved to the Royal Conservatoire in Brussels to study violin.

Arthur Grumiaux variously has been described as having made his debut in Brussels at the age of 14, or in 1935, although his debut is more commonly said to have occurred in 1940.

Arthur Grumiaux debuted in the United States in Boston in 1951, and toured the United States in the following year.

Arthur Grumiaux died of a sudden stroke in Brussels in 1986 at the age of 65.

Arthur Grumiaux had a long-standing relationship with Philips Records, lasting more than 20 years, and recordings are available from them of him performing works by Handel, Bach, Vivaldi, Michael Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Mendelssohn, Bruch, Tchaikovsky, Saint-Saens, Lalo, Henryk Wieniawski, and Johan Svendsen.

Arthur Grumiaux owned a Guarneri, the "Rose", made by Giuseppe Guarneri in 1744, and played a Stradivarius, the "General Dupont", made in 1727.

Arthur Grumiaux owned the "Museum", made by Giuseppe Guarneri in 1739, and the "Campoli", made by Giovanni Guadagnini in 1773.